Improvement in lace-curtain stretchers



J. GILRAY.

LACE-CURTAIN-STRETCHER.

Patented Aug.1. 1876.

N. PETERS, PHOTO-UTPIDGRAPNER. WA5NINGTQN. D4 C:

JAMES GILRAY, or TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

lMPROVEMENT IN LACE-CURTAIN STRETCHERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 180,572, dated August1, 1876; application filed I May 1, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J AMEs GILRAY, of thecity of Toronto, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario,Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lace-Gurtain Stretchers and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and accurate description thereof, whereby others skilled in theart could make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompayingdrawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a class of devices which are used for thepurpose of stretching lace curtains thereon, after having been washedand starched, so that they will, when dry, be equably stretched, havinga uniform outline, and be free from peaks and points therein, which arealways present .when stretched and dried without a proper stretcher.

It consists of two longitudinal bars, sufficiently long to reach beyondthe length of any ordinarylacecurtain, one of the sizes having railsmeasuring about four and a half yards 1n length by two and one-quarterinches in width, and seven-eighths of an inch thick; also, twocross-bars of about one-half the length of the aforesaid longitudinalbars, and of the same sectional dimensions as those just referred to;also, of four clamps, by means of which the aforesaid four bars areclamped together, so as to form a frame suitable for any or every sizeof curtain, and adjusted to the required size with perfect accuracy, andwith facility.

It consists, also, of asystein ofheadless pins thereon arranged, uponwhich the curtain is linked, and kept out to the proper size until fullydry and ready for removal therefrom. Two or more pieces can be placed011 one frame at the same time, when so required.

In the accompanying drawings, the same letters of reference indicate thesame parts in all the views, and in this specification.

Figure l is a front view of my device, showing the two longitudinal barsA A. and the two cross-bars B B, and the four screw-clanips O O O (J,also the headless pins (1 d d, which pins d are placed at a distance notmore than two inches apart on the rails A A, and at a distance of fourinches on the rails B B. They project out of the rails aboutthree-eighths of an inch, and lie at an angle, the top thereof incliningoutward from the center of the frame.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal edge view, showing bars A A, and the ends ofthe cross-bars B B, and two of the four clamps G O, as placed inposition on the stretchers.

Fig. 3 is a transverse edge view, showing the ends of the longitudinalbars A A with pins (1 (I, which are made of brass wire to avoid theeffects from rust which would result from the use of other metal.

It will be observed that,-on reference to the drawings, and especiallyto that of Fig. l, the device is shown clamped up in position to receivethe lace-curtain thereon, and that the clamps will admit of theenlargement or contraction thereof, with the utmost precision andfacility.

Having thus described my invention, I claini- V In a stetching-frame, F,constructed with plain cross-bars B B, as shown and described,

the combination and arrangement therewith of the longitudinal bars A A,pins (1 d, and

clamps G 0 (J G, as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

JAMES GILRAY. Witnesses:

WILLIAM GILL, THO. WOODBRIDGE.

